Welcome Thomas Almand was born July 16, 1852, at Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, the son of David Butler Almand of Irish descent, and his wife, Mahalah (Plunket) Almand. David Butler Almand was born Sept. 7, 1816 and died Sept 12, 1873. He is buried in Friendship Cemetery, Nevada County, Arkansas. He  was a Primitive Baptist minister, one of his charges being Friend- ship church near what is now Cale, Nevada County, Arkansas. He was a landowner and gave the ground on which Friendship Church and Cemetery were located. Mahalah Plunket was born Jan. 30, 1812 and died in the year 1885. Children of David Butler Almand and his wife, Mahalah were: John, David Butler, Welcome Thomas, Henry, Joseph, Simeon, Sarah (Mrs. George M. Daniel), Martha (Mrs. Alfred Turner), Harriet (Mrs. Benjamin Fairchilds), Nancy (Mrs. James Toland).

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      Welcome Thomas Almand, the subject of this sketch, came to Arkansas with his parents when he was a small boy (sometime between 1855 and 1860). He attended the common schools of the community. When he came to manhood, he bought land near Friendship Church, a part of his father's farm. He was also a carpenter.

 

      In the year 1871, Welcome Thomas Almand was married to Mary Cynthia Moore (Aug. 10, 1855- June 15, 1883), daughter of Robert F. Moore, (Nov 29, 1925-May 1, 1865) and his wife Maria Jane (Landers) Moore (b. July 6, 1634) who were married Nov. 13, 1851. Robert F. Moore was a native of Alabama of Scotch descent. The Moore's came to Arkansas before the Civil War and Robert F. was soldier in the Confederate Army, probably enlisting Union County, Ark., where the family lived at the time. He died from illness during the War. After the war, Maria Jane Lenders Moore moved to a small farm north of Emmet on what is now the Broadway of America, where she died and was buried. The Cemetery (Serepta) joined her farm. Each of her children were buried there. Children of Robert F. Moore and his wife, Marie Jane (Landers) Moore were: Mary Cynthia (Mrs. W.T. Almand), Sarah Edna (unmarried), James William, Charles B., Robert. Mary Cynthia (Moore) Almand died July 15, 1883. Buried at Emmet beside her mother, Maria Jane (Landers) Moore who passed away in the year 1881.

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      Welcome Thomas Almand married his second wife, Elle Wright, March 16, 1884.
 
      Children of Welcome Thomas Almand and his wife, Mary Cynthia were: Betty Levenia (Mrs. John Sutton), Sarah Jane (Mrs. Thomas Hurndon), Hattie C. (married Wat. W. White), Abbie D. (married Smith Hart), Robert B. Died in infancy.

     

     Children of Welcome Thomas Almand and his second wife, Elle Wright were: Lizzie Leora (married Shelton Nelson), Ollie Estella (married Hooper McCain), Clarence Monroe, Joseph Sidney.

   

       Welcome Thomas Almand was a member of the Caney Methodist Church near what was then Honeaville post office. He died Oct. 8, 1917 on his farm near Friendship Church and was buried near Cale at Caney church.

               

(Arranged from data given me Aug. 1940 by Hattie Almand White, daughter of the Subject.)